Tuesday
Warrior in World
Sacred Path of the Warrior Presented at Youth Conference
Rev. Alexander Garbera, a member of the Pioneer Valley Shambhala Meditation Center, presented concepts from Chögyam Trungpa’s Shambhala: Sacred Path of the Warrior at True Colors SOGIEcon (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression) last March.
The workshop was crafted to help build attendees’ resilience to weather the onslaught of anti-LGBTQIA+ rhetoric, policies, and actions leaving youth and parents bewildered, afraid, and frustrated by introducing Trungpa’s concepts of bravery, courage, and fearlessness — as well as using Windhorse and the vision of the Great Eastern Sun to fortify resilience. Meditation was presented as a way of uncovering the source of bravery and courage while engaging with the world with compassion to create a more enlightened society. Each attendant received a free copy of the book.
The workshop was applauded by attendees who resonated with the need for more wisdom, love, compassion, and understanding in what seems to be increasingly dark times.
The unsolicited feedback of one attendee captured many of the comments after the short meditation: “I have often found this subject to be a little out of reach, and [it was] presented in a way that felt more approachable. One of the big takeaways for me was the idea that meditation is not intended to be a form of escape or detachment, but rather to be better connected. I like that it’s not about fixing something that’s broken, it’s just a kind of tool that can help people. I am going to just give it a try and start small, because even just doing a few deep breaths feels like a big change.”
Rev. Garbera feels that the Shambhala dharma is sorely needed now and encourages all of our members and friends to revisit and share the profound gifts we have received.
Held on the campus of the University of Connecticut, it is the largest LGBTQIA+ youth conference in the USA. The conference brings together LGBTQIA+ youth, their peers, allies, family members, educators, social workers, clinicians, clergy, and community members to educate themselves, promote connection, and support the next generation of LGBTQIA+ leaders. With over 200 workshops, performances, and activities organized around specific groups and audiences, there were about 1,850 attendees. A PDF of the PowerPoint can be found at: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aRgcFeuWaups2MYLAbOGS-5mrnlUK5Pf/view?usp=drivesdk.
Entries filed under Featured Stories
Taking Our Seats – HIGHLIGHT
By Lois Lungta, on-the-scene blogger in Halifax It is fascinating to experience the full richness of Shambhala. The Vidyadhara once described the physical environment of Shambhala as dripping with gold and jewels, and being here for this week of celebration is actually an experience of this. ... continuePosted November 11, 2009 by Jennifer Holder
Our Sakyong’s Heart – HIGHLIGHT
Yes, cybermandala, I am awake and writing at 4:15am. The city is dark and the only ones up and about in the lobby are the kasung, preparing for the arrival of His Eminence. I will be brief, but as many of you rouse yourselves at ... continuePosted November 10, 2009 by Jennifer Holder
Dawning Delegates – HIGHLIGHT
By Lois Lungta, on-the-scene blogger in Halifax On my second trip to the lobby this morning, I encountered the delegates from Gampo Abbey. I have always thought of my pre-dawn waking habits as weird, or unconventional, but upon encountering cheerful faces and maroon robes at that ... continuePosted November 9, 2009 by Jennifer Holder
Dreaming Shambhala – HIGHLIGHT
By Lois Lungta, on-the-scene blogger in Halifax I awoke this morning contemplating dreams. The ones I had awaken from, the ones I live, the ones that guide my life and my choices. Dreams are like navigating with an internal compass – the little piece of metal ... continuePosted November 8, 2009 by Jennifer Holder
Good Morning Halifax! – HIGHLIGHT
Early Morning, November 7, 2009 By Lois Lungta, on-the-scene blogger The first thing I did this morning was an act of economic treason. Well, according to my country of birth it may be considered patriotism, but since I consider myself a citizen of a global community of ... continuePosted November 7, 2009 by Jennifer Holder
Inauguration of Naropa’s Fifth President – HIGHLIGHT
Press Release from Naropa University Naropa University President Stuart C. Lord was officially ushered into the office he’s held since July 1 during an inauguration ceremony on October 31. Approximately 300 people attended the ceremony, held at the Nalanda Events Center. Lord is Naropa’s fifth president. Watch a ... continuePosted November 6, 2009 by
Tweeting Shambhala – HIGHLIGHT
Using the Power of the Internet to Radiate Basic Goodness By Jennifer Holder Early this year, my boss at the book publishing company where I worked sat me down in front of Twitter and Facebook and gave me the pith instruction on how the modern ... continuePosted November 3, 2009 by Jennifer Holder
Wrathful Gesar – HIGHLIGHT
By Walker Blaine His Eminence Namkha Drimed Rinpoche will bestow the empowerment of Gesar Trakpo, Wrathful Gesar, on the Shambhala and Ripa vajrayana sanghas during two-day program on November 7th and 8th in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The Gesar Trakpo practice is new to our community; this is ... continuePosted November 2, 2009 by Walker Blaine
Traveling the Yanas Through Congress – HIGHLIGHT
The story of the evolution of Shambhala Congress. Part Two of Jennifer Holder’s interview with Amy Conway. Click here for Part One: A Precious Exchange. Shambhala has held three Congresses: the first in November of 2003, the second in February of 2005 and the third in ... continuePosted November 1, 2009 by Jennifer Holder
“The Sakyong has something for you…” – HIGHLIGHT
Emily Sell, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche’s editor, recalls how the composition of the Treatise on Society and Organization occurred: “I was just settling into an airplane ride when someone sat down in the seat beside me. It was Rinpoche. He had moved from first class to ... continuePosted October 31, 2009 by Richard_Reoch
Tenshuk Ceremony – HIGHLIGHT
Often people wonder what it means to have a teacher and to be a vajrayana practitioner. Even after we have been participating in this special relationship with our teacher and the phenomenal world for a long time, still we may wonder. In this article, Walker Blaine engages ... continuePosted October 30, 2009 by Walker Blaine
What is the Sakyong Ladrang? – HIGHLIGHT
Interview with Suter Dubose Councilor of the Sakyong Ladrang Listen to the Interview This interview was taped at KGNU in Boulder with the assistance of Thomas Lenk. An edited and abbreviated transcript is provide below. Could you explain what the term, Sakyong Ladrang, means? What does a ladrang do? The word ... continuePosted October 28, 2009 by
Sakyong’s Year of Retreat – HIGHLIGHT
Letter to the Shambhala Community from the Ashe Acharya, John Rockwell To the Noble Shambhala Community, The Sakyong will be on retreat for a little over a year, from November 2009 until Shambhala Day 2011. A year is a long time. The Druk Sakyong took two year-long retreats—one ... continuePosted October 23, 2009 by
Sakyong Confers Vajrakilaya Abhisheka – HIGHLIGHT
By Walker Blaine On October 11th, 2009 Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche conferred the Vajrakilaya abhisheka at Karme Choling in Barnet, Vermont. This marks the Sakyong’s first full presentation of a Nyingma yidam (meditation deity) to our community. Vajrakilaya is the activity aspect of all the buddhas. It focuses ... continuePosted October 21, 2009 by Walker Blaine
A Precious Exchange – HIGHLIGHT
The Magic of Shambhala Congress Jennifer Holder interviews Amy Conway about her experience at all three Shambhala congresses. Click here for Part Two in our series: Walking the Yanas of Congress. Amy, you’ve attended all three previous congresses and will be in Halifax for the fourth ... continuePosted October 19, 2009 by Jennifer Holder
RSS feed for the Featured Stories category
View all posts from authors in Featured Stories: jillian_johnson